Washington (CNN) - If you're looking for a sign that this week is shaping up as a critical test of President Barack Obama's presidency, look no further than his schedule on Tuesday.

In the morning, he'll make his fifth address to the United Nations General Assembly - this time, with major diplomatic opportunities emerging in Syria and Iran. Later, his domestic agenda takes over when he turns again to former President Bill Clinton to explain Obamacare a week ahead of a critical date in its implementation.

soundoff(19 Responses)

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

Diplomacy in action. No more cowboy rhetoric of "you're either with us, or you're with the terrorists." I'm HOPEful that their can be a resolution regarding Iran's nuclear program, but I'm not getting my hopes too high. But this is a step in the right direction.

September 23, 2013 04:40 pm at 4:40 pm |

rs

Actually, aside from what now appear to be two significant accomplishments in the Middle East, I would say the President's domestic record isn't so bad- one need only look at the disaster that is the GOP to see the real limitations on governance in America today, namely that when one party surrenders it's sanity, progress can be slowed. A further note is that every day that the Right spews its lies, and carries on its tantrums simply affirms how right America was to re-elect the President. The GOP is simply a party of angry, ant-American losers.

September 23, 2013 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

-just asking

still waiting for that list of hillary accomplishments during her 4 years leading the state dept.

well, those are her accomplishements, if you can call them that.
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Take your bipolar meds, first.

None of these events would have been prevented with anyone else in charge of State, including the GOP. A decision be another country to luanch a missile, or use gas on its people, is beyond our control unless we choose to intervene. A few short weeks ago you were calling the Democrats warmongers for wanting to use limited strikes to prevent further use of chemical weapons: are you now saying that we should have done it years ago, or is this just another example of the bi-polar way you have of responding to posts by others? Egypt is in the hands of its military, a move I would have thought you approved of, especially since you seem to hate people exercising their free will to choose their own leaders. As far as what happened in Libaya, what has Issa uncovered? Nothing. Mistakes were made, lives were lost, and since when did those deaths have more meaning than the corpses that piled up by teh thousands under GOP policy?

September 23, 2013 04:55 pm at 4:55 pm |

tom l

Here it comes from the liberals. Can we get an over/under on how many will call CNN "fox lite" or something silly like that because this isn't a glowing article of our president?

September 23, 2013 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |

sonny chapman

Ironic: Easier to deal with "Crazy" Iranians than Repub. Congressmen.

September 23, 2013 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |

freedom

Why doesn't he just move to another country and impose his imperialist ideas there – where they would be more welcome. That would straighten us out domestically immediately.

September 23, 2013 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Gurgyl

Grab this IRAN opportunity. It wants pro-USA. Grab it.

September 23, 2013 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

tom l

To all those on the left:
Why do you say such incredible silly things like the "repubs want to take down the country and the economy"? Why would they want to do that? It just makes no sense. But since you all act like a bunch of 4th graders with your name calling and lack of perspective I guess it can't possibly cross your mind that perhaps they feel that there is a different way to improve our awful economy. I don't think that they have the answer either, for the record. BOTH sides don't have a clue. Remember, as much as you want to say the economy is doing so much better under Obama, there are actually still LESS people working today than when he started and the actual percentage of Americans working is at an alarmingly low rate.

You on the left saying that repubs want to take the economy down is as stupid as when repubs say that Obama wants to ruin the economy. You guys both sound like morons. Both sides WANT to improve the economy, they just have different visions for how to accomplish th
Unfortunately, neither has a clue and both think the govt can do something.

September 23, 2013 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

Tampa Tim

Tom l – I hope I don't hurt your feelings, but the GOP has a track record of economic disaster from the first Great Depression to the Bush recession. 8 million jobs lost in 2008 under republican leadership, unfunded wars and unfunded drug programs. Based on performance, I would never hire a republican.

September 23, 2013 05:46 pm at 5:46 pm |

Tampa Tim

Most right wingnuts are not as bright as a 4th grader. Look at Cruz and Palin and you can't deny it.

September 23, 2013 05:47 pm at 5:47 pm |

Data Driven

The biggest story CNN isn't reporting: the burgeoning rapprochement between Obama and Rasfhani.

September 23, 2013 05:48 pm at 5:48 pm |

Tampa Tim

To right wingnuts – America, love it or leave it! You can't push third world ideology and then say you love America.

September 23, 2013 05:50 pm at 5:50 pm |

Data Driven

@tom l,

I'd say that Republicans want to keep redistributing the nation's wealth to the rich, and (some) Democrats want to redistribute it the other way.

One side's right. Pick a side.

September 23, 2013 05:52 pm at 5:52 pm |

Gurgyl

@freedom, tell that to Bush the thush.

September 23, 2013 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

don in albuquerque

@freedom-still simple after all these years. and tom I–the GOTP has made it very clear they would rather see this country go down in flames. That's why it is time to get rid of them.

September 23, 2013 06:34 pm at 6:34 pm |

rs

freedom

Why doesn't he just move to another country and impose his imperialist ideas there – where they would be more welcome. That would straighten us out domestically immediately.
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Spoken like a true patriot. Too bad for you the president was duly elected by Americans- TWICE!

September 23, 2013 06:54 pm at 6:54 pm |

rs

You guys both sound like morons. Both sides WANT to improve the economy, they just have different visions for how to accomplish th
Unfortunately, neither has a clue and both think the govt can do something.
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mature-
However the difference is the Democrats and the President have tried, and in fact made real strides towards recovery- with no help from the Right- The GOP is shooting blanks. No policies, nothing but what got us in the mess of '08. seriously- name ONE policy from the Right (or from Mr. Paul if you feel him different from anyone else on the Right) on how to get things back on track.

September 23, 2013 06:59 pm at 6:59 pm |

rs

sonny chapman

Ironic: Easier to deal with "Crazy" Iranians than Repub. Congressmen.
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Apparently true. A fez for Mr. Cruz to complete his image!

September 23, 2013 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

tiscali.it

President Obama is a damn good president... he has to deal with so much crap ...day in and day out...and I haven't even got racist crap... the attacks on him and his family are so personal and disrespect...but he keeps his head high and tries to do his job...